Shoe tree with a desiccant



Aug. w, 1948. H. F. BRUSH SHOE TREE WITH A DESICCANT Filed July 19, 1946 Imuentor Patented Aug. 10,1948

NITED STATES TATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to shoe trees, and more specifically to shoe trees having a desiccant disposed therein for reducing the moisture in the shoe and inhibiting the formation of odors in the shoe.

It is an object of my invention to provide a shoe tree which tends to keep a shoe in shape.

It is a further object of my invention to pro- Vide a shoe tree which is light in weight, easily inserted in a shoe, easy to keep clean, inexpensive, and durable.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a shoe tree with a desiccant holder, whereby a desiccant may be carried by the shoe tree and positioned within the shoe.

It is a still further object of my invention to reduce the amount of moisture in a shoe resulting from the leather absorbing perspiration from the foot, to keep the leather from deteriorating, and also to inhibit the generation of odors in the shoe.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe tree;

Figure 2 is a top view of the shoe tree;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a partial cross section taken on the line 44 in Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the end of the bar-member.

The shoe tree has a body-member I having substantially its entire surface covered with perforations 8. The end 9 of the body-member I nearest to the heel is closed except for the point where the bar member I is admitted. The bar member ID is pivotally attached to the end 9 by a pin II. At the opposite end of the bar-member ID, a heel-brake I2 is attached.

The end of the bar-member II] is provided with three slots I3, I3, I3. A greater or lesser number is optional. There is also an interior annular groove I4.

A desiccant cartridge I is provided to fit into the bar-member I0. At one end, it has an exterior annular ridge I6 to correspond with the interior annular groove I4. The surface of the cartridge I5 is provided with perforations I'I spacially arranged so that they may either be exposed in the slots [3, or covered by the portions I8, I8, I8, of the bar-member between the slots I3. The cartridge is also provided with a collar I9 2 integral therewith so that it may be 'convenie' tly turned to place the perforations H in open relation in the slots I3, or in closed position behind the portions 28, etc., of the bar-member Ill. The cartridge I5 is a snap-fit in the bar-member II] by reason of the engagement of the annular ridge It with the annular groove I4.

The body-member 'I may be made of metal or of any plastic material. It is to be noted that the sole side of the body-member I is completely open to facilitate the moisture absorption, but the balance of the body-member is perforate for the same purpose. The bar-member I0 is preferably made of a flexible tubular plastic material although other materials may be selected. The heel-brace I2 may be similarly composed. The cartridge I5 is preferably of metal and has a desiccant, disposed therein.

When the shoe tree is not in use, the cartridge I5 should be turned by the collar I9 so that the perforations H are closed by the portions I8, etc., of the bar-member I0. When used, the perforations I! should be exposed in the slots I3, etc., by a turn of the collar I9. The body-member I is then inserted into the shoe and pressed forward, and the heel-brace is pivoted until it rests against the heel of the shoe. The desiccant may then absorb the moisture from the shoe. Besides leather, canvas and synthetic materials enter into the composition of the shoe, and the drying action afforded will be generally beneficial to the other materials used. When the desiccant in the cartridge I5 is exhausted, a renewal cartridge may be substituted, the old one reactivated, or the old one refilled with new desiccant.

The foregoing detailed description of my shoe tree is intended to be illustrative of my invention. Many changes in this specific embodiment may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow bar-member pivotally mounted thereon, a heel-brace associated with the barmember at its heel end, said bar-member being adapted to receive in its hollow portion a perforate desiccant receptacle having an exterior annular ridge, and the bar member being provided with an annular interior groove to cooperate with the ridge on the desiccant receptacle to hold said receptacle therein.

2. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow bar-member pivotally mounted thereon, a heel-brace associated with the barmember at its heel end, said bar-member having a plurality of slots at the toe end and adapted to receive in its hollow portion a perforate desiccant receptacle having an exterior annular ridge and the bar-member being provided with an interior annular groove to cooperate with the ridge on the desiccant receptacle to hold said receptacle therein.

3. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow bar-member pivotally mounted thereon, a heel-brace associated with the barmember at its heel end, said bar-member having a plurality of slots at the toe end and adapted to receive in its hollow portion a perforate desiccant receptacle so arranged and constructed that the perforations may be disposed in closed relationship with the bar-member or in open relationship with the slots in the bar-member,

said desiccant receptacle also having an exterior annular ridge, and the bar member being provided with an interior annular groove to cooperate with the ridge on the desiccant receptacle to hold said receptacle therein.

4. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow, bar-member pivotally associated therewith, a heel-brace associated with the bar-member at its heel end, a plurality of slots in the toe end of the bar-member, and a perforate desiccant receptacle frictionally positioned in the hollow portion of the bar-member.

5. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow bar-member pivotally associated therewith, a heel-brace associated with the bar member at its heel end, said bar-member having a plurality of slots at the toe end and adapted to receive in its hollow portion a rotatable desiccant receptacle, perforate areas alternating with unperforate areas on the receptacle with the latter area corresponding in extent with the slots in the bar-member, and a collar on the receptacle extending beyond the bar-member whereby the receptacle may be manually rotated.

6. A shoe tree comprising a perforate body member, a hollow bar-member pivotally associated therewith, a heel-brace associated with the bar-member at its heel end, said bar-member having a plurality of slots in its toe end, a perforate desiccant receptacle frictionally positioned in the hollow portion of the bar-member, and a collar on the receptacle extending beyond the end of the bar-member.

HAROLD FRANK BRUSH.

REFERENCES CITED Theiollowing references are of record in the 

